Patents by Inventor Frank Dimroth

Frank Dimroth has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230387339
    Abstract: A multiple solar cell having at least two partial cells, at least being formed from a direct semiconductor, having an upper partial cell facing the light and a lower partial cell facing away from the light, an upper bandgap of the upper partial cell being greater than a lower bandgap of the lower partial cell, and an intermediate layer arranged on the lower partial cell side facing away from the light. An optical element including a lower mirror element is arranged on the intermediate layer side facing away from the light, and has a partial element having structural elements arranged in a lateral direction on the intermediate layer side facing away from the light. The structural elements have a mean spacing less than or equal to 1.3 times a spacing value that results from a ratio of a wavelength of the lower bandgap to a refractive index of the lower partial cell or the lower mirror element has a roughness having a root-mean-square value of less than 50 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicants: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V., Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
    Inventors: David LACKNER, Oliver HÖHN, Benedikt BLÄSI, Jens OHLMANN, Frank DIMROTH, Jonas SCHÖN
  • Patent number: 11430910
    Abstract: An engineered substrate comprises: a seed layer made of a first semiconductor material for growth of a solar cell; a support substrate comprising a base and a surface layer epitaxially grown on a first side of the base, the base and the surface layer made of a second semiconductor material; a direct bonding interface between the seed layer and the surface layer; wherein a doping concentration of the surface layer is higher than a predetermined value such that the electrical resistivity at the direct bonding interface is below 10 mOhm·cm2, preferably below 1 mOhm·cm2; and wherein a doping concentration of the base as well as the thickness of the engineered substrate are such that absorption of the engineered substrate is less than 20%, preferably less than 10%, and total area-normalized series resistance of the engineered substrate is less than 10 mOhm·cm2, preferably less than 1 mOhm·cm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Soitec
    Inventors: Cécile Aulnette, Frank Dimroth, Eduard Oliva
  • Patent number: 11329182
    Abstract: A monolithic multiple solar cell includes at least three partial cells, with a semiconductor mirror placed between two partial cells. The aim of the invention is to improve the radiation stability of said solar cell. For this purpose, the semiconductor mirror has a high degree of reflection in at least one part of a spectral absorption area of the partial cell which is arranged above the semiconductor mirror and a high degree of transmission within the spectral absorption range of the partial cell arranged below the semiconductor mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: AZUR SPACE Solar Power GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Meusel, Gerhard Strobl, Frank Dimroth, Andreas Bett
  • Publication number: 20210210649
    Abstract: A monolithic multiple solar cell includes at least three partial cells, with a semiconductor mirror placed between two partial cells. The aim of the invention is to improve the radiation stability of said solar cell. For this purpose, the semiconductor mirror has a high degree of reflection in at least one part of a spectral absorption area of the partial cell which is arranged above the semiconductor mirror and a high degree of transmission within the spectral absorption range of the partial cell arranged below the semiconductor mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Applicant: AZUR SPACE Solar Power GMBH
    Inventors: Matthias MEUSEL, Gerhard STROBL, Frank DIMROTH, Andreas BETT
  • Patent number: 10985288
    Abstract: A monolithic multiple solar cell includes at least three partial cells, with a semiconductor mirror placed between two partial cells. The aim of the invention is to improve the radiation stability of said solar cell. For this purpose, the semiconductor mirror has a high degree of reflection in at least one part of a spectral absorption area of the partial cell which is arranged above the semiconductor mirror and a high degree of transmission within the spectral absorption range of the partial cell arranged below the semiconductor mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: AZUR SPACE Solar Power GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Meusel, Gerhard Strobl, Frank Dimroth, Andreas Bett
  • Patent number: 10833215
    Abstract: A multi-junction solar cell having a first subcell made of an InGaAs compound. The first subcell has a first lattice constant and A second subcell has a second lattice constant. The first lattice constant is at least 0.008 ? greater than the second lattice constant. A metamorphic buffer is formed between the first subcell and the second subcell and has a sequence of at least three layers and a lattice constant increases from layer to layer in the sequence in the direction toward the first subcell. The lattice constants of the layers of the buffer are greater than the second lattice constant, and a layer of the metamorphic buffer has a third lattice constant that is greater than the first lattice constant. A number N of compensation layers for compensating the residual stress of the metamorphic buffer is formed between the metamorphic buffer and the first subcell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Azur Space Solar Power GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Guter, Matthias Meusel, Frank Dimroth, Lars Ebel, Rene Kellenbenz
  • Publication number: 20190378948
    Abstract: Multijunction solar cells are provided having at least four p-n junctions with a rear-side germanium subcell, orientated away from the light, and at least three subcells made of III-V compound semiconductors, disposed above the germanium subcell, the multijunction solar cells having at least one metamorphic buffer layer and at least one wafer-bonded compound and all the layers, which are disposed above the germanium subcell, comprising respectively a light-absorbing emitter- and/or base layer which comprise at least 20% indium, relative to the sum of all the atoms of group III. Furthermore, methods of using of these multijunction solar cells in space are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Frank DIMROTH, David LACKNER
  • Patent number: 10490683
    Abstract: A stacked integrated multi-junction solar cell, having a first subcell, whereby the first subcell has a layer of an InGaP compound with a first lattice constant and a first band gap energy, and the thickness of the layer is greater than 100 nm and the layer is formed as part of an emitter and/or as part of the base and/or as part of the space charge region lying between the emitter and base, and a second subcell with a second lattice constant and a second band gap energy, and a third subcell with a third lattice constant and a third band gap energy, and a fourth subcell with a fourth lattice constant and a fourth band gap energy, and a region with a wafer bond is formed between two subcells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Azur Space Solar Power GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Guter, Gerhard Strobl, Frank Dimroth, Alexandre William Walker
  • Publication number: 20190355867
    Abstract: An engineered substrate comprises: a seed layer made of a first semiconductor material for growth of a solar cell; a support substrate comprising a base and a surface layer epitaxially grown on a first side of the base, the base and the surface layer made of a second semiconductor material; a direct bonding interface between the seed layer and the surface layer; wherein a doping concentration of the surface layer is higher than a predetermined value such that the electrical resistivity at the direct bonding interface is below 10 mOhm·cm2, preferably below 1 mOhm·cm2; and wherein a doping concentration of the base as well as the thickness of the engineered substrate are such that absorption of the engineered substrate is less than 20%, preferably less than 10%, and total area-normalized series resistance of the engineered substrate is less than 10 mOhm·cm2, preferably less than 1 mOhm·cm2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventors: Cécile Aulnette, Frank Dimroth, Eduard Oliva
  • Patent number: 10361326
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a solar cell assembly structure for supporting a concentrator photovoltaic cell comprising a semiconducting structure and a diode, wherein the semiconducting structure comprises a first semiconducting region at least a part of which for placing the concentrator photovoltaic cell structure, and a second semiconducting region for realizing the diode within or on the second semiconducting region and wherein the part of the first semiconducting region for placing the concentrator photovoltaic cell structure and the second semiconducting region are not vertically overlapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Soitec
    Inventors: Cécile Aulnette, Rainer Krause, Frank Dimroth, Eric Guiot, Eric Mazaleyrat, Charlotte Drazek
  • Patent number: 9954139
    Abstract: This disclosure is related to a manufacturing method for a plurality of photovoltaic cells comprising the steps of: obtaining a plurality of photovoltaic cells placed at a first distance from each other; attaching a stretching material to the plurality of photovoltaic cells; and stretching the stretching material such that the plurality of photovoltaic cells result at a second distance from each other, wherein the second distance is greater that the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: SOITEC
    Inventors: Rainer Krause, Cecile Aulnette, Eric Mazaleyrat, Frank Dimroth, Eric Guiot
  • Publication number: 20180062018
    Abstract: A monolithic multiple solar cell includes at least three partial cells, with a semiconductor mirror placed between two partial cells. The aim of the invention is to improve the radiation stability of said solar cell. For this purpose, the semiconductor mirror has a high degree of reflection in at least one part of a spectral absorption area of the partial cell which is arranged above the semiconductor mirror and a high degree of transmission within the spectral absorption range of the partial cell arranged below the semiconductor mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: AZUR SPACE Solar Power GMBH
    Inventors: Matthias MEUSEL, Gerhard STROBL, Frank DIMROTH, Andreas BETT
  • Patent number: 9799789
    Abstract: A monolithic multiple solar cell includes at least three partial cells, with a semiconductor mirror placed between two partial cells. The aim of the invention is to improve the radiation stability of said solar cell. For this purpose, the semiconductor mirror has a high degree of reflection in at least one part of a spectral absorption area of the partial cell which is arranged above the semiconductor mirror and a high degree of transmission within the spectral absorption range of the partial cell arranged below the semiconductor mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Azur Space Solar Power GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Meusel, Gerhard Strobl, Frank Dimroth, Andreas Bett
  • Patent number: 9748426
    Abstract: A monolithic multiple solar cell includes at least three partial cells, with a semiconductor mirror placed between two partial cells. The aim of the invention is to improve the radiation stability of said solar cell. For this purpose, the semiconductor mirror has a high degree of reflection in at least one part of a spectral absorption area of the partial cell which is arranged above the semiconductor mirror and a high degree of transmission within the spectral absorption range of the partial cell arranged below the semiconductor mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Azur Space Solar Power GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Meusel, Gerhard Strobl, Frank Dimroth, Andreas Bett
  • Patent number: 9741888
    Abstract: A monolithic multiple solar cell includes at least three partial cells, with a semiconductor mirror placed between two partial cells. The aim of the invention is to improve the radiation stability of said solar cell. For this purpose, the semiconductor mirror has a high degree of reflection in at least one part of a spectral absorption area of the partial cell which is arranged above the semiconductor mirror and a high degree of transmission within the spectral absorption range of the partial cell arranged below the semiconductor mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Azur Space Solar Power GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Meusel, Gerhard Strobl, Frank Dimroth, Andreas Bett
  • Publication number: 20160380142
    Abstract: A multi-junction solar cell having a first subcell made of an InGaAs compound. The first subcell has a first lattice constant and A second subcell has a second lattice constant. The first lattice constant is at least 0.008 ? greater than the second lattice constant. A metamorphic buffer is formed between the first subcell and the second subcell and has a sequence of at least three layers and a lattice constant increases from layer to layer in the sequence in the direction toward the first subcell. The lattice constants of the layers of the buffer are greater than the second lattice constant, and a layer of the metamorphic buffer has a third lattice constant that is greater than the first lattice constant. A number N of compensation layers for compensating the residual stress of the metamorphic buffer is formed between the metamorphic buffer and the first subcell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Applicant: AZUR SPACE Solar Power GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang GUTER, Matthias MEUSEL, Frank DIMROTH, Lars EBEL, Rene KELLENBENZ
  • Patent number: 9502598
    Abstract: A monolithic multiple solar cell includes at least three partial cells, with a semiconductor mirror placed between two partial cells. The aim of the invention is to improve the radiation stability of said solar cell. For this purpose, the semiconductor mirror has a high degree of reflection in at least one part of a spectral absorption area of the partial cell which is arranged above the semiconductor mirror and a high degree of transmission within the spectral absorption range of the partial cell arranged below the semiconductor mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Azur Space Solar Power GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Meusel, Gerhard Strobl, Frank Dimroth, Andreas Bett
  • Publication number: 20160211401
    Abstract: A monolithic multiple solar cell includes at least three partial cells, with a semiconductor mirror placed between two partial cells. The aim of the invention is to improve the radiation stability of said solar cell. For this purpose, the semiconductor mirror has a high degree of reflection in at least one part of a spectral absorption area of the partial cell which is arranged above the semiconductor mirror and a high degree of transmission within the spectral absorption range of the partial cell arranged below the semiconductor mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Applicant: Azur Space Solar Power GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Meusel, Gerhard Strobl, Frank Dimroth, Andreas Bett
  • Publication number: 20160211400
    Abstract: A monolithic multiple solar cell includes at least three partial cells, with a semiconductor mirror placed between two partial cells. The aim of the invention is to improve the radiation stability of said solar cell. For this purpose, the semiconductor mirror has a high degree of reflection in at least one part of a spectral absorption area of the partial cell which is arranged above the semiconductor mirror and a high degree of transmission within the spectral absorption range of the partial cell arranged below the semiconductor mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Applicant: Azur Space Solar Power GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias MEUSEL, Gerhard STROBL, Frank DIMROTH, Andreas BETT
  • Publication number: 20160133770
    Abstract: A monolithic multiple solar cell includes at least three partial cells, with a semiconductor mirror placed between two partial cells. The aim of the invention is to improve the radiation stability of said solar cell. For this purpose, the semiconductor mirror has a high degree of reflection in at least one part of a spectral absorption area of the partial cell which is arranged above the semiconductor mirror and a high degree of transmission within the spectral absorption range of the partial cell arranged below the semiconductor mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Applicant: Azur Space Solar Power GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias MEUSEL, Gerhard STROBL, Frank DIMROTH, Andreas BETT